Existence of long-lasting experience-dependent plasticity in endocrine cell networks. Auteur(s): Hodson David j, Schaeffer Marie, Romanò Nicola, Fontanaud Pierre, Lafont Chrystel, Birkenstock Jerome, Molino F., Christian Helen, Lockey Joe, Carmignac Danielle, Fernandez-Fuente Marta, Le Tissier Paul, Mollard Patrice (Article) Publié: Nature Communications, vol. 3 p.605 (2012) Texte intégral en Openaccess : Ref HAL: hal-00759109_v1 PMID 22215080 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1612 WoS: 000299921000003 PubMed Central: 3272579 Exporter : BibTex | endNote 88 Citations Résumé: Experience-dependent plasticity of cell and tissue function is critical for survival by allowing organisms to dynamically adjust physiological processes in response to changing or harsh environmental conditions. Despite the conferred evolutionary advantage, it remains unknown whether emergent experience-dependent properties are present in cell populations organized as networks within endocrine tissues involved in regulating body-wide homeostasis. Here we show, using lactation to repeatedly activate a specific endocrine cell network in situ in the mammalian pituitary, that templates of prior demand are permanently stored through stimulus-evoked alterations to the extent and strength of cell-cell connectivity. Strikingly, following repeat stimulation, evolved population behaviour leads to improved tissue output. As such, long-lasting experience-dependent plasticity is an important feature of endocrine cell networks and underlies functional adaptation of hormone release. |